320-pound Boatman Takes Long Road To Fsu

March 12, 2006|By Emily Badger Tallahassee Bureau

TALLAHASSEE — Shannon Boatman is in a position these days to take the long view on life: how he got here, why he took such a meandering path, even what Mr. Kibbles had in mind all those years ago when he seemed to be picking on him.

Jessie Kibbles, an assistant principal at West Brook High in Beaumont, Texas, used to drag Boatman into his office for stern warnings.

"Shannon was one that was sort of challenging for me here at West Brook," Kibbles remembers. "He was always a huge mountain of a young man, and somewhat just lazy, mischievous and sneaky, but quiet in how he did it."

Kibbles couldn't get over his delight that someone was calling from Florida to talk about Boatman, who might be the most important recruit in Florida State's 2006 signing class.

"To hear that he has done this, that he has developed a work habit now, that he has a love and respect for not only the game but for himself to be the best that he can be," Kibbles said, "it sends chills up and down, knowing that he is going make it, he's going to be successful."

A 6-foot-7, 320-pound All-American from Tyler (Texas) Junior College, Boatman has a chance to make an immediate impact at offensive tackle, the position where the Seminoles could use an influx of talent. After enrolling in January, he stood out among newcomers last month in mat drills, an offseason conditioning program.

FSU opens spring football practice Monday. And Boatman could, in the next three weeks, earn a starting job.

He had been recruited out of high school by Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Baylor and LSU. But the schools realized by the end of his junior season that he wasn't likely to qualify.

"There is no particular thing you can say to a young man to prepare him to walk into the Orange Bowl," said Jamie Critchlow, the coach at Tyler.

The prospect has Boatman a little nervous. But he expects he'll get over it quickly because that's one of the benefits of growing up along the unusually long road he has taken to get here.

'06 SEMINOLES

Positions Of Concern: Offensive line remains the greatest weakness, and the unit, along with its defensive counterpart, won't be able to jell this spring with several players coming off surgery. Cory Niblock and John Frady on the offensive side and Darrell Burston and D.J. Norris on defense will be either limited or held out of drills.

Ready To Emerge: With two of FSU's three starting linebackers moving on to the NFL, this position is ripe for new talent to emerge. Several promising players await in Geno Hayes, Rodney Gallon and Lawrence Timmons. CB Jamie Robinson, a redshirt freshman, and S Myron Rolle, a freshman who enrolled in January, expect to make a push for playing time.

The Buzz: As far as exciting drama, this spring should having nothing on last year with its open-ended quarterback questions. Drew Weatherford will be your starter. Ten players had surgery after the Orange Bowl, limiting depth-chart competition at several positions. But fans will get their first look at key newcomers Rolle and OT Shannon Boatman.